Frontenac Votes Down Occupancy Permits for Rentals

Frontenac will not require occupancy permits for rental property any time soon, the Board of Aldermen decided Tuesday night. Instead, officials will use existing laws to pursue extended housing code violations cases in municipal court.

Many cities use permits as an enforcement tool against code violations because the permits allow interior inspections. Most of Frontenac's residential areas have private subdivision trustees who can pursue violations civilly.

Frontenac's West End park does not have trustees, and a group of violations there prompted the recent study of requiring permits. "This would be a lot of legislation for an isolated problem," Alderman John Wynne said.

The board voted unanimously against permits now, and 4-2 against even leaving the matter on the table for future study.